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FWIW, I have read nothing bad about VV powders, but I also haven't read they will do anything more common powders will do just as well (and cheaper). Besides I can't remember seeing any VV powders on the shelf in So. CA or Oregon. For my 45 ACP I have used a lot of Bullseye, W231, Unique and now mostly Universal (although I'm trying some CFE Pistol now). I'm going to follow this thread to see the reports on VV in 45 ACP with light bullets...

Switched from W-231 to Vihtavuori N-310 about two years ago. Very much like the N-310 for my .45’s and use it for lighter bullseye loads with 200 gr SWC’s and also for my defensive practice loads with 230 gr plated HP’s. Use less powder than W-231 (almost identical loads with N-320) and I have never used a powder that meters better and it is very clean.

IMO, VV pistol powders are the Cadillac of pistol powders. But, they are also the most expensive. If one of your goals is the lowest cost per round, then VV powders aren't for you. And, also IMO, anything any VV powder can do can be done almost as well by a less expensive powder.

I've used VV N310 in 45 ACP with 200 grain cast swc bullets with good results. It is my understanding that Wilson Combat checked the accuracy of newly produced 1911 with 200 grains swc bullets and a stiff charge of N310. Patrick Sweeney of Guns and Ammo has also written articles regarding the use of N310 and 200 grain swc bullets.

The only downside I experienced with N310 is that it is sensitive to cold weather, i.e., velocity drops are experienced between shooting it in 80 degree temperatures as compared to 40 degree temperatures.

I use vv310 @ 3.7 gr. with coated 185 gr. SWC. I'm just a range rat that enjoys shooting small groups. I switched from Bullseye. The load has very mild recoil and burns cleaner than BE. I do wind up using less powder than BE. It's a little more expensive but I like the results. Works in all my 1911s with factory recoil springs.

I ran a spreadsheet of cost per round (not cost per pound) when I switched from one of the best powders I ever found for .45 ACP (SR-4756, which is discontinued) that was pretty cost effective. When SR-4756 was discontinued, it was costing 2.2 cents per round, and the VV N310 came out to 2.0 cents per round. My criteria was clean burning, consistent metering through a Dillon powder measure or RCBS Uniflow powder measure, low flash signature for low-light shooting, and consistent results on the target. The VV N310 delivered that. Temperature sensitivity is a shared trait across many powders, and was not in my criteria, but it could be something to keep in mind if you live in an area that has significant temperature differences in your environment.

It all depends on what your criteria is and what you want to accomplish, as well as which traits or attributes are important to you. As far as cost per round, I have not found it to be notably more expensive than many other powders that are popular .45 ACP powder. If you want to load magnum loads for .357 and the larger magnums, the slower powders will be heads and shoulders above the faster burning powders. I haven't tried the N110 that is supposed to deliver similar performance in those calibers as H110, but H110 is my favorite for those magnum loads in magnum calibers.

My loads for .45 ACP are VV N310 for 200 gr. and 230 gr. projectiles, whether plated, cast, or jacketed. I'm very happy with what it does as far as fitting my criteria.

I have used vv n310 for .45 acp with 185 gr. fmj projectiles. It worked well for me. I like the clean-burning, it's consistent metering and accuracy. I haven't tested n320n yet but I have some on hand and plan on seeing how it works with .45 acp rounds. I am sure it will be ok but more suited for 9mm.

I have used vv n310 for .45 acp with 185 gr. fmj projectiles. It worked well for me. I like the clean-burning, it's consistent metering and accuracy. I haven't tested n320n yet but I have some on hand and plan on seeing how it works with .45 acp rounds. I am sure it will be ok but more suited for 9mm.

When I first switched to Vihtavuori I used N-320 for the .45ís. I still use it for my 9ís and really like it for those. Switched to N-310 for the .45ís as I do some lighter loads for bullseye and find the faster burning qualities better for that.

The N-320 does very nicely in the .45ís but the N-310 meters even better than the N-320, which meters very well.

I shot many thousands of coated, 200gr roundnose bullets over 5.0-5.2 grains of N320.
At that time, I was using Bear Creek and Precision brand bullets.
VV powders became prohibitively expensive, so I switched to Hodgdon Clays, which gave the same velocities at half the cost per shot.

__________________
If you're not shooting you should be moving. If you're not moving you should be reloading. If you're not shooting, moving, or reloading, you should be taping or picking brass. - Z.C.

Location: The People's Republic of Illinois, most corrupt state in the Union.

Age: 70

Posts: 5,994

Talking about cost per round, I can give you some idea of what to expect from VV powders. I use their N32C Tin Star for .45 Colt and several other revolver cartridges from that same era.

My load for .45 Schofield is 8 gr under a 250 gr. RNFP. A lb. of N32C runs about $35.00, so that works out to $.04 per round. That cost does not include any hazmat or tax or S&H cost, but that applies to any powder so I didn't include it. N32C is also a bit more expensive than many of the other VV powders, so cost per round with those would most likely fall in the $.03-.035 range.

A bit more per round, but performance is considerably better at least in my case, than any other powder I've tried, and it burns super clean. VV has a new distributor in the US now, so availability is much better, but you'll still most likely have to order it online from Grafs or Powder Valley. I've never seen it on the shelf in any store, but I don't have any of the big stores in my area either.

Btw, another good powder for .45 is True Blue. It burns clean, meters like water, and is very dense, so you can easily get higher velocity if you need to.

Thanks everyone, I'm trying to find it locally here in northeast PA and so far no luck.

I can get it online, but a pound of n310 and a pound of n320 seem to come out around $95 dollars (two pounds total including shipping and hazmat). I can get that price down to about $32 per pound but have to buy eight pounds, and I don't want to do that just to try it.

Anyone local to the northeast PA area that can suggest a local shop that stocks it? I'm located about halfway between Allentown and Mt Pocono if that helps.

I keep on eye out for Brownells 1 cent hazmat special with the Vihtavuori on sale also. Usually works out quite well. Otherwise there is a store within an hour of me that is fairly reasonable but they rarely have 4 pounders.

I last bought my N310 from Powder Valley in July 2017 - 16 lbs. of it. I use it for my .45 ACP loads on 230 gr. plated, at 3.8 grs. per round. At 16 lbs. times 7000 grs. per pound, that is 112000 grs. Divide that by 3.8 grs. per round is 29,473 rounds at what I paid (including shipping and the free hazmat when ordered) of $422.00 total cost. Divide $422.00 by 29,473 and it appears my cost per round for powder is $0.0143 which is 1.43 cents per round. My latest primers were from Powder Valley and cost $28.00 per 1000, which is 2.8 cents per round. It appears my powder cost per round is 1/2 of my primer cost per round - I don't consider that expensive for powder.

Buying one pound at a time is not cost effective, but it is effective for exploring whether you like the powder or not - after that order from one of the component online suppliers (like Powder Valley or Brownells) in sufficient quantities and the cost comes down (per round loaded) to a nice level; especially if they have free shipping and/or free hazmat.

That's what I'm thinking, and I don't mind paying $36 for a single pound to try it out, but $48 per pound ( buying two pounds to try ) is a very tough pill to swallow. A bit too tough for me. And I don't want to buy 8 pounds without knowing if I'll like it.

Maybe I can get a fellow reloader that I know to go in with me and split the cost.

That's what I'm thinking, and I don't mind paying $36 for a single pound to try it out, but $48 per pound ( buying two pounds to try ) is a very tough pill to swallow. A bit too tough for me. And I don't want to buy 8 pounds without knowing if I'll like it.

Maybe I can get a fellow reloader that I know to go in with me and split the cost.

That's what I'm thinking, and I don't mind paying $36 for a single pound to try it out, but $48 per pound ( buying two pounds to try ) is a very tough pill to swallow. A bit too tough for me. And I don't want to buy 8 pounds without knowing if I'll like it.

Maybe I can get a fellow reloader that I know to go in with me and split the cost.

chris

For target shooting in 45acp in 185 and 200gr I don't know anyone who doesn't like 310 when cost isn't a factor.

We use N320 for our Jacketed 380s.
BE in 45ACP.
Once paid $50/lb and was glad to get two that day.
I always pour a bit of new/different powders and light them up to compare to the regulars.

Will try VV in the 45 as well.
Still havenít loaded a single round on the Dillon I bought to sort of modify ďsingle stageĒ not long ago.
Will run some 45/380s with VV/BE and launch the press as Dillon intended.

In South Florida.... Mouse guns rule ...but we hunt with Fishing Rods.

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